Oranjezicht, Cape Town

Oranjezicht (Dutch: "orange view") is a suburb in Cape Town, South Africa, situated on the slopes of Table Mountain. The suburb was built on the site of the old Oranjezicht farm, which used to stretch at least as far as the Mount Nelson Hotel and supplied the Cape Town Castle with fresh produce. It was operated as a farm from the arrival of the first owner Peter van Breda in Cape Town in the early 18th century until over 200 years later.

Some of the buildings of the farm as well as the old slave bell are still at the location where the farm once stood. The farmhouse was on the property directly to the east of what is now a public park and playground. It was torn down in the 1960's to make way for a bowling green (which is also still there). St. Cyprian's School is located in the suburb.

Origins of the name

There is debate around the reason for the name 'Oranjezicht' which means "view of orange" in Dutch. Various theories include that the name was due to orange and lemon trees that are said to have covered a great deal of the Oranjezicht farm, that the name comes from the view of the Cape Town Castle from the farm, and that the name originates from imagined views of the Dutch house of orange far to the north.